Rubin on adding multitouch to the Nexus One: 'we'll consider it'
By Chris Ziegler 
posted January 5th 2010 12:46PM
posted January 5th 2010 12:46PM
Google and its partners have a track record of being clear as mud about their intentions regarding multitouch -- they're obviously all dancing around the issue, but there's definitely some logic (probably legal logic, but logic nonetheless) behind which devices are getting it in which markets. Notably lacking multitouch, though is the flagship Nexus One -- an odd device for Google to fail to pimp out in every conceivable way, we'd argue. Our man on the ground in Mountain View today pressed Android chief Andy Rubin on the matter today, asking whether we might see multitouch in a future Nexus One software update: "we'll consider it." That's all we could get out of him, suggesting this is still very much a sensitive subject -- but at least we have some confirmation that it's a software limitation alone, so if nothing else, this'll get hacked every which way within a few days of release.
You know, maybe it's just that it's not that important to most users?
@MarkAnderson it's important to me. you know maybe it's just that's it's not that important to you and you are generalizing your opinion to millions of other people. STFU
@MarkAnderson
Maybe not, but if the hardware can do it why in the hell wouldn't you code it into the software.
It's just creating another thing for the iPhone fanboys to pick on.
@purfikt
Thanks for your input. Now go and look up irony in the dictionary, kid.
@John Hinds: I does have multi-touch coded into the SDK. It (being native apps) doesn't recognize the pinch-to-zoom gesture. Unfortunately, sites (like Engadget) seem to be propagating the misconception that pinch-to-zoom = multi-touch.
@kidphat
Exactly... The phone has multitouch. The main apps just don't use it.
@kidphat @jayD16
In the review, Engadget says it does not have multi-touch which renders the NES emulator useless. I don't think the NES emulator is a "main app."
@MarkAnderson Of course, if the iPhone didn't have multitouch and all other mobile operating systems did, Engadget readers would claim it is the second coming of Jesus.
@petey1111: My point again, they refer to pinch-to-zoom as multi-touch. Multi-touch is the ability for the device/OS to recognize multiple inputs to the screen simultaneously (which it does). You can take that one step further by attributing certain gestures (like pinching) to certain functionalities (like zooming). Pinch-to-zoom (which Android doesn't implement on native apps or as a default gesture) != multi-touch. The NES emulator would have to implement the gesture.
@Dale P
Exactly, lol.
@MarkAnderson
Multitouch is personally really important to me. It is WAY easier to use anything that zooms, or the keyboard, if it has multitouch.
And it's great that the OS supports it, but the apps I want it in most (gallery, browser, maps, and the keyboard) don't support it, which makes the fact that other apps can support it nearly useless.
It also makes no sense for them to continue to avoid enabling it, which is annoying in itself.
But I've got the mulitouch browser hack on my G1, and its nicer than using tap to zoom, but since its a hack, its a bit choppy, and it would be WAY nicer if it were officially supported by google, because I imagine it wouldn't be choppy like the hack is now. So i REALLY want mulitouch, and i have a feeling that *most* users that aren't asking for it simply aren't asking because they don't know about it. I can't imagine someone *not* wanting it.
-Taylor
@petey1111 From what I can tell, Nesoid is an app that doesn't use multi-touch. Even if this phone had multi-touch, Nesoid wouldn't work because the app wasn't coded to use multi-touch.
@MarkAnderson Multitouch isnt just pinch-to-zoom as most people believe. It actually makes the keyboard MUCH easier to use. See the iPod Touch/iPhone keyboard versus the DROID keyboard video that is out there. Tap and hold on the shift key while tapping other letters, like a real keyboard; rapid typing where one thumb hits a character before the first thumb was off the screen is much more accurate with multitouch.
Multitouch is big. Why they aren't including it in the apps, but the hardware and OS support it makes absolutely no sense. Hence all the theories here that Google/Apple have some agreement/understanding that it won't be officially implemented.
@kidphat it has the capability to do multitouch, like the DROID, but it is not implemented. There is no multitouch implementation on the keyboard, which would make an infinite difference when typing. I think people actually want the implementation, not just the capability.
@jtupeck
Now, the keyboard, I can totally see why that would be good. Pinch to zoom just smacks of having to use two hands when one would do though.
@MarkAnderson It could be, but you can't deny that there's just some people who can't help themselves but to give a criticism about something that's lacking. Google is just making sure. For 2 years, Google has carefully been following the trails of iPhone seeing their flaws and using it for BIG G's advantage, today on their official
statement it's clear that Google release the nexus one phone not as an iPhone Killer but a smartphone for the whole world. You judge now which sounds more good to you?
Nexus One is something that has been waited for countries who didn't have the opportunity to have a high-end smartphone. I'm talking about asia. All questions has definetely been answered: http://bit.ly/nexus-one-official-details-and-questions
Try using multitouch on iPhone or Eris - No multitouch is a major step backwards.
@enjoytheride823 I do every day, its hype.
@enjoytheride823
Try driving and trying to pinch to zoom or vice versa....completely worthless. I WISH my iphone had a single tap buton like on android.
@enjoytheride823 I agree. Typing, croping pictures, gaming just better with multi touch. its very stupid to not have one , and they call this nexus = superphone? blah.
@PapaSteveZ
Well, no offense, but I'm pretty sure the biggest problem with your scenario isn't the fact that it's hard to multitouch and drive, but that you're playing around with your cellphone while driving in the first place... shit man...
Ross did a good job in the Q&A, well done.
@Hosain
Yeah i heard him try to clarify what he ACTUALLYwanted an answer to and not settle for a politician type answer. God that really grinded my gears how they avoided the question like that.
Am I corrct in assuming it'll have multitouch in units that are shipped out to Europe?
@John Hinds I can't be sure, since the DHL delivery charge on the unlocked Nexus One seems to imply the phone is being shipped out from the US. They're not gonna open the box and a flash a non-US firmware on with multi-touch support enabled either.
"it's a software limitation alone, so if nothing else, this'll get hacked every which way within a few days of release."
Amazing... thats what most of us have been saying from the beginning of all this.
The funny thing is if phone had multi touch and a certain other phone didn't have it, these Android fanboys running around would be shouting for joy. Typical losers.
@Goona
Shouldn't you be at Macrumors getting put in Time Out as usual?
@Goona
Nah, I'll settle for replying to one.
@MarkAnderson
You must be Bongobanger on Macrumors?
@MarkAnderson
Yup, although I rarely go there any more. I have a Macbook but run Windows 7 on it so there's little point frequenting an Apple fansite.
Besides some of the people there are truly, truly crazy.
The idiotic Android fanboys downranked. Bunch of suckas.
@Goona
Nah, it's because everyone thinks you're a cock.
@Goona
I downranked you, and I'm typing from an iPhone. Trust me, MakAnderson is right about you.
@Hex
I don't give a damn where you are typing from.
Great, and while you're considering it, I may wait for the iPhone to hit verizon.
I'm confused as to why they wouldn't want to add multitouch.
and when did the iPhone get MMS?
@cdsfire
In June.
@cdsfire Seriously?
Engadget commenters remind me of bullies on the playground. Cutting down someone else because of their own insecurities. iPhone owner: "I'm pissed that I don't have Flash, so I'm going to point out that you don't have multitouch on your native apps!". Android owner: "I'm pissed that I don't have multitouch, so I'm going to make fun of your lack of Flash!".
These are electronic devices. Hunks of metal and plastic. They aren't revolutions or saviors. Buy what works for your needs, and don't buy what doesn't. If you want Flash, don't buy an iPhone. If the Android interface doesn't suit you, don't buy Android. Is that so hard?
@Filmguy15
I actually carry a Blackberry.
But I honestly appreciate your straight forward reply. I am tired of all the bickering too, but I ended up just feeding the fire.
Nexus One has multitouch . The native apps dont use pinch zoom. STOP CONFUSING THE TWO. engadget is fucking useless. if u want pinch zoom then download apps with it on fuckwit
@boggit
from the review: "One other thing. As we mentioned in our impressions post, there's no multitouch on the Nexus One. Now, we can live with a browser or Google Maps with no pinch-to-zoom, but not having a hardware keyboard hamstrings this device in other ways. For instance, gaming on the phone is pretty much abysmal save for a few accelerometer-based titles. And some of our favorite software, such as Nesoid (an NES emulator) is a total dead."
@boggit
Haven't you read the review? They said that the Nexus One doesn't have multitouch at all. I couldn't care less about pinch-to-zoom, but you can't even register more than a single registration, which makes quick typing on a touch keyboard painfully slow.
The Droid and the Nexus One both run Android 2.0/2.1. Therefore they and any other phones running at least Android 2.0 have multi-touch. The default apps like the Browser, and Google Maps don't support multi-touch, but other apps from the Android market have the ability to support mult-touch. For instance the Dolphin Browser available on the Market has pinch and zoom, and Android allows you to make it your default browser for all browser functions. To say it doesn't support multi-touch is incorrect, only the default apps don't.
@TheGM
from the review: "One other thing. As we mentioned in our impressions post, there's no multitouch on the Nexus One. Now, we can live with a browser or Google Maps with no pinch-to-zoom, but not having a hardware keyboard hamstrings this device in other ways. For instance, gaming on the phone is pretty much abysmal save for a few accelerometer-based titles. And some of our favorite software, such as Nesoid (an NES emulator) is a total dead."
@petey1111 Paste it as many times as you want, it doesn't say what you think it says. The phone hardware has multitouch. The Operating System has multitouch. None of the Google apps have multitouch. Download one of the alternate multitouch enabled browsers and you'll see.
@petey1111
That's what I'm wondering why does Engadget keep saying multi touch doesn't work as a whole when it clearly does. They did the same for the Droid review.
@TheGM
Doesn't the built-in touh keyboard still not have multitouch? Wouldn't that cripple typing speed no matter what app you're using?
"we'll consider it."
???????????????
is the man a complete idiot?